Continuing its steady growth in the Richmond area, Wells Fargo Commercial Banking hired Thomas Palmer as senior vice president and regional manager. Also joining Wells Fargo’s Richmond office, Brian Combs will serve as senior vice president and senior relationship manager. In addition, the company has established a Commercial Banking office in Fredericksburg, VA.

Palmer brings more than 27 years of financial experience to Wells Fargo and focuses on building relationships and serving middle market customers with annual revenues of at least $20 million. Previously, he worked at SunTrust Bank and predecessor companies for 20 years, most recently serving as executive vice president and group head for middle market banking. He began his financial career with KPMG Peat Marwick in Boston.

Palmer earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration (commerce) from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia and his M.B.A. from J.L. Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He is a board member of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, where he serves as vice chairman of finance.

“Tom’s disciplined approach to credit and relationship building, combined with his 20-plus years of working with customers in Richmond, is a valuable combination for Wells Fargo’s customers and our franchise,” said Edmond Lelo, division manager for Wells Fargo’s Mid-Atlantic Commercial Banking Group. Lelo, who took the reins of the Mid-Atlantic Commercial Banking Division in 2012, focuses on putting teams on the ground in the communities where their customers live and work. He has nearly doubled his team of relationship managers since June 2012.

Brian Combs, also formerly of SunTrust Bank, has been tapped as senior relationship manager for the Richmond office. Combs, a 14-year banking veteran in the region, most recently served as senior vice president of the Corporate Banking Group at SunTrust Bank. He holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Virginia and his M.B.A. from Wake Forest University.

“Brian’s career has been distinguished by the long-term, trusted relationships he builds with clients, and consequently he’s a great fit with how we do business with our clients at Wells Fargo,” said Palmer.

Wells Fargo has established a Commercial Banking office in Fredericksburg to serve middle market customers there. Dermaine Lewis, a native of Fredericksburg and an 11-year Wells Fargo team member, has been tapped to lead that office.

In related news, the company announced last week that it has established an Eastern Region hub for its National Food & Agribusiness Division that will serve the U.S. east of the Mississippi River, including the Central Virginia market.